It’s still fall, but it already looks and feels like winter outside.

That makes it the perfect time to start winterizing around the house to keep the cold outside where it belongs.

One of the first things Home Depot Store Manager Amy Bork suggests is making sure water pipes are protected and insulated. When frozen pipes burst, it often spells flooding and water damage.

She suggests pipe covers to prevent this from happening. She also recommends faucet covers for outside faucets.

Bork said even properly working heaters and furnaces can leak enough air to fill a hole measuring two-foot square.  That’s like leaving a window open 24 hours a day.  Using an insulation kit can significantly reduce that loss.

The best time for winterizing is now, before it gets even colder and more snow falls.

“It’s important, especially where we live, to plan ahead of time so you aren't stuck in a bad situation,” Bork said.

She also recommends getting a home’s heating unit checked.